Mild and breezy down here on south Tyneside this afternoon. A tremendous effort from Kit in the Great North Run, completed in 1h 33.38mins despite being held up for over an hour at the start and hence meeting significant trouble in running – 1850th of the 60,000 runners.  Slightly frustrating, I sense he may be back next year… (and if so inclined you can still donate to his chosen charity – The Injured Jockeys Fund – here)

The Red Arrows provided spectacular entertainment throughout the day

On to Perth tomorrow where I hope they have had a perfect drop of rain to make the ground ideal for our two runners, it is given as good at this stage.  First up is Everyday Champagne in the 3.40, he can go very well over this course and distance, especially if he can use his jumping from the front. He’s a genuine horse and we are using a visor tomorrow just to focus his attention in the early stages – Bruce rides and 8 run.

Everyday Champagne

We run Artic Mann in the 4.40, he’s a course and distance winner who would run better on softer ground, hopefully he can give a good account with the benefit of Dom’s 10lb claim – 10 run

Artic Mann

A fine day, definitely cooler and we seem to be missing the heavier rain affecting the South.  Horses seem in a good place, only two race fit at this stage – Everyday Champagne and Artic Mann  who both hold entries at Perth on Monday.  Have to see what the weather is going to do and meantime it is down to Tyneside tomorrow afternoon in readiness for The Great North Run on Sunday morning.

Aside from Perth we are hoping Hamandio may reappear at Auteuil on Tuesday

This has become a bit of an annual pilgrimage for us with Kit and Johnny both regular participants and Rose and I waiting at the finishing line drinking coffee! It is always the most tremendous occasion as the world’s largest half marathon and this year Kit is our runner and I imagine he is hoping to run sub 90 minutes.  There is an excellent app for tracking progress which we will anxiously be watching – you can get all the info and download it here

There is of course a very important charitable element to the whole thing and Kit is raising money for the Injured Jockeys Fund.  This Charity has always been very close to my heart going back to the collection at my Father’s funeral 33 years ago.  Obviously Lucy was a big beneficiary throughout her career as a jockey, particularly in recovering from her career ending injury in 2020, five years later she still benefits from physio treatment at Oaksey House in Lambourn.  The support they provide is invaluable and the  risks facing everyone that works with horses were brought home this week with two serious injuries here on the gallops; Katie suffering a severe concussion last Friday and Mark breaking his humerus on Wednesday.  We wish them both a speedy recovery and if you do feel inclined to support Kit’s efforts and the IJF you can do so here – https://www.justgiving.com/page/kit-alexander-2

Breezy today but generally warm and sunny with the odd passing shower.  The end of August and time for an update from the yard where the preparation of our team of horses for the winter is very much in full swing.  Although we have a small advance party being proepared for the Perth September meetings most of the horses have only just come up to full work. We also introduced jumping to their regime this week, I’m very happy with where the horses are, they look well and are all doing their work with zest and enthusiasm.  Some photos of them jumping…

Old Comrades (Amy) one of many young hroses we are looking forward to this season

It has been a wonderful summer of weather and sport; I love flat racing and had a thoroughly enjoyable trip to York for Juddmonte day, fantastic sport at a great racecourse that does everything so well.  And then last weekend at Perth a tremendously successful inaugural Scone International Horse Trials, so well organised and marketed.  It simply wouldn’t have been possibly under the previous ownership of Perth Racecourse and a hugely postive event for equestrian sport in Scotland.

Another… Takeyoutotheisland (Dom) – the horses all jumped about 20 obstacles, all the same whether unraced youngsters or seasoned chasers

Of course tomorrow is the day when the new Chair of the BHA finally takes up his position.  I suspect he will be greeted by rather a full intray, where on earth does he start?  Goodness knows, but one place he will be expected to be will be Westminster on the afternoon of 10th September when racing is going to be putting its case to as many MPs as it can persuade to cross Parliament Square from the House of Commons to the QEII Conference centre, having cancelled racing that day in an effort to be noticed.  The latter at least seems to have worked with Racing making it onto the front pages of the national press and into the main news bulletins.

Eloi du Puy (Jess)

Ostensibly the meeting is about persuading the Treasury not to harmonise and/or raise betting duty on racing in the autumn budget.  Gambling is an easy target for this cash strapped government but the unintended consequences for the underlying sport could be very damaging.  I say ostensibly because the real issue is to try to explain that the fiscal disadvantages suffered by racing in the UK relative to other racing jurisdictions are damaging our competitive position and that without intervention to improve we may well end up a third world country in racing terms rather than being the global leader.  We are clinging on to the latter position by our fingernails and without fiscal help the situation will undoubtedly look very different in 5 to 10 years time.  If racing is nurtured it can be of benefit at so many levels and that includes the Treasury; smother it and everyone loses, it will carry on but the opportunity will have been wasted.  Over to you Lord Allen…